DK2028880T3

DK2028880T3 - Automatic telephone-type identification by hearing assistance devices

Info

Publication number: DK2028880T3
Application number: DK08104991.8T
Authority: DK
Inventors: Georg Gottschalk; Frank Wagner
Original assignee: Sivantos Gmbh
Priority date: 2007-08-21
Filing date: 2008-08-08
Publication date: 2016-06-27
Also published as: CN101415140B; CN101415140A; EP2028880B1; US20090052706A1; DE102007039452B3; US9319801B2; EP2028880A2; EP2028880A3

Description

The invention relates to a hearing aid system comprising at least one hay-rehjælpeapparat with an input converter for receiving an input signal and converting it into an electrical input signal, a signal processing unit for processing and amplifying the electrical input signal and supplying an electrical output signal and a telephone for transforming the electrical output signal into an acoustic output signal. Hearing Aid Devices are offered in various performance classes. These differ mainly by the respectively used phone-type, of which the maximum output power and maximum produce pressure level depends. By BTE portable hearing assistance devices, by which phone worn hearing aid is in an earpiece in the user's ear canal, so-called RIC BTE (Receiver-in-Canal-behind-the-ear) hearing aids, the hearing devices that can provide different performance, simple manner, with different phones using different earpieces. As a rule, the earpiece detachably connected to the hearing aid housing by means of a connector so as to allow a replacement, for example. in acoustics transferee. In this context it is also important to the hearing aid signal processing unit adapted to the used phones. If the amplification of an acoustic input signal by the hearing aid device is not adapted to the used phone may under certain circumstances take place exceeding the user's discomfort threshold, even damage your hearing. It is therefore desired that there is an automatic adaptation of the signal processing, and especially the gain of the phone used.

From CH 673 366 A5 discloses a hearing aid with setting devices for changing the hearing aid signal transfer characteristics. The known hearing aid can be equipped with a different number of adjusting devices, and can be assigned an adjusting device with different setting functions. Setting devices comprise setting switches which are soldered together with a printed circuit board of the hearing aid. For hearing aids with various setting functions, the setting device is covered with different cover caps, which have contact elements in differently coded form. Particularly attached to different setting devices different setting functions using the number of contact toner on the contact elements, which belong to the individual adjusting devices. WO 99/09799 relates to a hearing aid with peripheral devices, wherein at least a portion of the peripheral devices include an identification device. By identifying unit it is about an identification memory in which that load information. US 2003/0086582 A1 relates to a hearing aid, which is divided into two modules: a first module with power supply and phone and another module with microphone and signal processing unit. In one embodiment, the first module an encoding unit and the second module a complementary decoding unit. Furthermore, it is indicated that the coding unit may be a memory or a mechanical coding device of projections and withdrawals. WO 2007/045254 A1 relates to an interchangeable acoustic system which transmits sound from a telephone to the hearing aid wearer's ear. The acoustic system comprises a coding device, indicating the acoustic system's acoustic properties. The encoding specified a number of key areas and their resistance. WO 2009/006889 A1 describes a hearing aid with a phone at which hearing aid device measures the impedance of the phone and thus identifies a type of phone.

From US 2004/0081099 A1 is further known an identification system that determines attachable appliances electrical properties and identify the connected device using the measured values.

The object of the present invention is to avoid an incorrect alignment of an input transducer signal processing unit to the phone used.

This is achieved by means of a hearing aid with the features stated in claim 1.

Invention basic idea is to provide means by which the respective hearing aid device used phone type can be automatically identified.

The invention has the advantage that by means of the automatic identification of the respective phone type minimizes the probability of an incorrect adjustment. The relevant phone type is determined automatically, and also adaptation to the identified phone type occurs preferably automatically. An incorrect adjustment of the signal processing unit to the respectively used phone type excluded thereby largely.

For the separation of different types of phones come various information carriers envisaged. These wears a hearing aid device system automatically detectable and for that phone type of characteristic information. A particularly simple viable possibility of using mechanical means as information carriers, consists in a particular embodiment of the telephone used to present connecting pins and in particular in the use of connecting pins of different lengths. Connecting pins of different lengths can be determined in a simple manner, and consequently can be deduced from various phone types. In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention comprises a hearing aid device itself the necessary means for the automatic determination of the used telephone type. However, it is also possible that the hearing aid system of the invention in addition to the at least one hearing aid comprises a programming device for programming and / or adaptation of the hearing aid and the means for the automatic determination of the used telephone type is at least partly moved into the programming device. Thus, for example. To listen to the auxiliary apparatus has only electrical contacts and wires, which allows for the used phone belonging resistance associated with the programming device. Since the determination of the resistance value and in this connection, automatic determination of the type of phone nevertheless made in the programming device. Furthermore, it is possible to hear the device has means for registering a for that phone characteristic information, wherein in the hearing aid device so that only stored data with regard to this information, which can be read out of the hearing aid, and the use of these data takes place outside the hearing aid, eg. in the programming device.

Like the automatic identification of the used phone type occurs also the automatic adjustment of the hearing aid apparatus signal processing unit to the identified phone type preferably automatically using the hearing assistance device. This ensures that the hearing aid unit's signal processing facility, also after a replacement of the used phone is always adjusted correctly to the phone type.

In addition to the automatic adjustment of signal processing for the phone used by the hearing aid device itself can information about the used phone type also analyzed and may be displayed in one with the hearing aid connected programming device. Similar options can then be performed manually by the person operating the programming device. With the benefit happens, however, an automatic adjustment of the hearing aid apparatus signal processing unit to the used phone using the programming device. Wrongful settings avoided thus largely by the operation of the adjustment device.

The invention is particularly advantageously used in a portable behind the ear hearing aid, in which the phone is in an earpiece worn in the ear (BTE-RIC). When the earpiece of the phone of such hearing assistance devices usually are detachably connected to the input transducer behind the ear portable housing, the phone can be replaced in a particularly simple manner. This increases also the risk that the signal processing in the hearing aid is not adjusted according to the requirements for the used telephone. An automatic identification of the used phone type as well as an automatic adjustment of the signal processing device according to the invention counteracts this danger.

In addition, the invention is particularly advantageously used in all modular hearing aids built up in which a telephone module is adapted to releasably connectable with the hearing assistance device. This may involve both a ear portable hearing aid (IDO) and a portable behind the ear hearing aid (HdO).

Embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the drawing, in which Figure 1 shows a behind the ear portable hearing aid with an ear portable earpiece, Figure 2 shows a connection unit for different types of phones, Figures 3-5 phones of different types, Figure 6 a table to analyze the logic of the telephone connection unit of Figure 2, and Figure 7 a telephone connection device with flertrinede contacts.

Figure 1 shows a hearing aid system according to the invention which comprises only a hearing aid 1 with a behind the ear portable apparatus part 2 and an in the ear portable earpiece 3. For recording an acoustic input signal and the transformation into an electrical input signal, there is provided a microphone 4 to the sound inlet opening 5 . the microphone 4 is connected to a signal processing unit 7 by means of electric wires 6. in the signal processing unit 7 is processed and amplified it by the microphone 4 cast electrical input signal in response to the signal frequency and fed to a phone 10 via electrical lines 8 and 13 and contacts 9. the phone 10 converts the signal processing unit 7 for producing electric output signal into an acoustic output signal and outputs this via the audio channel 11 at a user's ear canal. By hearing assistance device 1 according to the illustrated embodiment is the phone 10 in the ear piece 3. These will feel it by a hearing assistance device 1 according to the illustrated embodiment for a so-called BTE-RIC. To the compound of the behind the ear portable apparatus part 2, with the ear portable ear piece 3 there is a connecting piece 12, which extend electrical leads 13 to the signal processing unit 7 is associated with phone 10. The connector 12 is detachably connected to the apparatus part 2. In addition, there are both the device portion 2 and also the connector 12 corresponding contacts 9. hearing aid device 1 of the embodiment also has a battery 14 to the power supply of the electrical components of the hearing aid device 1 and a switch 15 with which the hearing aid device is on and disconnectable and can be set to different hearing programs for the adaptation of the signal processing unit 7 for the various hearing environment. Hearing Aid Unit 1 signal processing unit 7 is programmable. This allows the signal processing in the signal processing unit 7 adapted to a user's individual hearing loss. In addition, it is possible to adapt the signal processing unit 7 to the hearing assistance device 1 used electronic components, in particular the used telephone 10. For the automatic identification of the hearing assistance device 1 used phone type of the hearing assistance device 1 a connecting device 20 which is described in more detail with reference to Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a schematic view of the hearing aid apparatus 1 connector unit 20 which can be connected to telephones of different types and automatically identifying the type of phone. The adapter 20 includes connection sockets 21 and 22, wherein a telephone 10 connecting pins A and B are indførlig. For the separation of different types of phones can connect the pins A and B differ in respect of their length. For example. to be able to separate the four different types of phones, each with two connecting pins, it is sufficient with two different lengths of the applied connecting pins A and B. In the embodiment of Figure 2 is connected a telephone 10 with a long connecting pins A and a card pin connections B with the connection unit 20. It is thereby incurs example on a telephone-type "T3". As shown in the figure are the connection legs A and B after the introduction of the telephone 10 in the connecting device 20 in contact with the contacts KA KB, respectively. In addition, closed miniatureomskifteren SA by connecting pin A, whereas miniatureomskifteren SB remains open. Analyzing logic 23 translates the identified switch positions into logical levels, which is transmitted through an interface 24 and lines 13 and 8 to the hearing assistance apparatus 1 signal processing unit 7. The signal processing unit 7 is generated by the transmit logic levels of parameters that correspond to the identified phone type which can be adjusted automatically in the signal processing unit 7. 1 Figures 3 to 5 there is shown three additional types of phones which can be separated with two connecting pins A and B, each of which can have two different lengths. In this way, Figure 3 shows a telephone of the type "T2" with a short connecting pins A and a long connecting pins B, Figure 4 a telephone of the type "T1" with a short connecting pins A and a card pin connections B, and Figure 5 a telephone of the type " T 4 "with a long connecting pins a and B. the connecting pins a much

For further clarification of the automatic telephone-type identification, Figure 6 shows in tabular form an adaptation of the switches SA and SB switch positions to the respective hearing assistance device 1 automatically identifiable phone type. The connection according to the table shown corresponds to the assignment of phone type of Figures 2 to 5. In a short connect pin A and B respectively remain the corresponding switch SA respectively SB opened in the bush 21 and 22 (corresponding to the words '' open "in the table of Figure 6) , by a long connecting pins a and B respectively closes the corresponding switch SA respectively SB in the bushing 21 and 22 (corresponding to the indication '' closed 'in the table of Figure 6). By means of the particular mechanical design of the connector the legs A and B are identified as follows in the context of analyzing logic 23:04 different types of phones in a reliable manner. This allows the input transducer signal processing automatically adapted to the respectively used phone type. Thus is prevented by means of the invention faulty settings with respect to the used telephone.

Alternatively to the illustrated embodiment example, the analyzing logic also be in the hearing assistance apparatus part 2 of the apparatus 1, is preferably integrated in the signal processing unit; 7th

Figure 7 shows an alternative embodiment of the connection unit 20 '. Unlike the Figure 2 embodiment illustrated here are used a multi-step switch device having serial contacts CAT, KA2 'respectively CGT, KB2' of connector jacks 21 'respectively 22'. The length of the used phone 10 connecting pins A and B can thereby, for example. determined that tested whether there is an electrical connection between the contacts KAT, KA2 'respectively CGT KB2'. This test can for example. take place after each coupling of the hearing aid before delivering an electrical output signal for each device 10. Also in this embodiment, the analytical process, preferably by means of an analysis logic 23 ', which in the exemplary embodiment, located directly in the connection unit 20'.

Execution examples show only a small selection of possible mechanical forms that can be identified by the hearing aid device respectively a thereto connectable programming device using the appropriate sensors, and appropriate values for the parameters for the adjustment of signal processing in the hearing aid device to the used telephone can be learned.

Claims

1. Hearing aid system comprising at least one hearing aid (1) with an input transducer for picking up an input signal and converting it into an electrical input signal, a signal processing unit (7) for processing and amplifying the electrical input signal and supplying an electrical output signal and a telephone (10) for the transformation of the electrical output signal into an acoustic output signal, whereby the hearing aid system comprises means for automatically identifying a hearing aid apparatus (1) used phone type in which different types of phones each of which is associated with at least one of the respective phone type characteristic mechanical form, the hearing aid system comprises means the identification of the hearing assistance device used phone type by means of the mechanical type, characterized in that the telephone (10) for the electrical contact connection, telefontilslutningsben (A, B), and the hearing aid system comprises means for identification of the hearing assistance device used phone type by means of different lengths of telephone connection the legs (A, B), and the hearing assistance device (1) comprises a multi-stage switch arrangement for the separation of different lengths of telephone connection the legs (A, B).

2. Hearing aid system according to claim 1, which comprises means for the automatic adjustment of the signal processing unit (7) to the identified telephone type.

3. Hearing aid system according to claim 2, wherein the automatic adjustment of the signal processing unit is done using the hearing assistance device (1) itself.

4. Hearing aid system according to claim 2, comprising a hearing aid apparatus connectable programming device, whereby the automatic adaptation of the signal processing unit is done by means of the programming device.

5. Hearing aid system according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the hearing assistance device (1) is adapted as a behind the ear portable hearing aid (1) with an in the ear canal projecting ear piece (3), wherein the phone (10) is arranged.

6. Hearing aid system according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the telephone (10) is releasably connectable with the hearing assistance device (1) or the earpiece (3).